The Washington critic., 1887-12-09

True, she did seem rather above him;
but then had she not given plain proofs
of her attachment to the country and OF
her preference for himself?
Besides, he was considered rather
"ketch" with the farmers daughters
round about. There was Marian"
Black who would give her eyes to be
mistress of the Dodd farm. But
| 'Mariar's" charms paled immeasurcly
before those of his brilliant companion.
$50 this is my last evening at Penny
ville," Miss Vernor's dulcct tones We're
saying. 81 know you must be glad,
Phil, We have been such bother to
YOU"
Hero was his opportunity.
"L didn't know-l-I-thought may
be you'd conclude TO stay with us alto
| gcthcr," he stammcrcd.
80, that would be impossible" she
said, with an irropressiblc gigglc.
The bare thought of spending the rest
of her gayety.loving life with bustling
"NIarm" DOdd so appealed TO her sense
of the ludicrousthat she sunk back in
her seat shaking with suppressed laugh
ter.
30, when l axcd you to stay, meant,
Of course, for you and me to git hitchod,"
said Phil, eagerly, plunging boldly into
the matter. "You must have seen that
] like you n heap better than any of the
gals round here" tenderly, attempting
to embrace her.
But Miss Nernor's self-possession had
returned, and thinking her dupe had
gone far enough, she said icily:
Il think you are very presumptuous,
4 -. II. 4 D.. ALL
in that way to meT
Phil. stared at her aghast.
"What right ~ he cried, in passion
Of disappointment and pain; "why,
hain't YOU given me reason enough to
think that you sot something by me?
Couldn't lia' got as likely gals as there
was in the hull countryside, only I'd
rather take you, if you had been beg
gar, than any one else with the best
farm in the State"
The awkward boy was gone, and a man
with passionate, wounded heart sat
there in his stead.
81 am surprised that you ever thought
IL possible could care for you," she re-
turned coldly. ~ never dreamed that
you would so misconstrue my friend
ship"
Truth to tell, the petted Miss Vernon
felt Just little embarrassed mt his Just
wrath, and the rest of the drive was per-
formed in uncomfortable silence.
She said nothing TO May of this cpl
sode feeling in no mood for reproaches.
Besides, something in Pills face made
her conscience give a few unusual
twinges; so, with a feeling of relief that
she was so soon to leave the farm and its
inmates she fell asleep.
How long she slept she knew not, but
she awoke with suffocating feeling and
a sense of impending danger She
groped her way to the door and opened
it, when volume of smoke and flame
rolling up the stairway drove her back,
half fainting with terror At the same
time the sound of excited voices and
cries of "fre!" from below told her that
the household had also discovered their
danger.
They called wildly to her to come
down, but when she again tried the
stairway, again the flames drove her
back. She sunk down with moan of
despair, but some one dashed up the
burning stairs, wrapt her hastily in u
blanket, and bore her out of the room.
Down the blazing stairway, as through
a furnace, they passed. They had
reached the hall; few steps more and
they would gain the door; but, over
powered by the deadly heat, her pre-
server sank on one knee with his almost
helpless burden.
"Oh, God.' cried Phil.'s voice; "we
shall die!" And then Nell lost conscious
ness.
When she again opened her eyes she
was lying on the grass, with May Lor-
raine's anxious face bending over her.
Dark figures were hurrying hither and
thither, and the whole scene was lighted
up by the glare of the burning building.
But whose was that dark, motionless
form borne along on a shutter, with
features burned and blackened horribly.
With terrible instructive knowledge
the gay city belle covered her face with
her hands to shut out the sight.
She knew the whole story afterward-
how he had rushed through almost GER
tain death to save her, and had died
with her name on his lips.
Her rcmorse for her heartless conduct
toward him was keen and sincere. She
remembered no more his homely feat
ures and ungainly ways; she thought
only of the hero's soul that burned in
that rough frame.
1t was no longer the heartless flirt
that returned to her gay city home.
The pastime of breaking mems hearts
had lost its old charms lor Nell Werner.
And if ever she did feel tempted to
trifle with an honest affection, the sight
of Pills white, despairing face, on the
evening when she had crushed his hope,
rose up before her with startling dis.
tinctiveness and checked that folly at
which the world laughs.-lN. Y. Fire.
side Companion.
The Ideal Girl.